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(N`o Model.) 'A l C. A. MILLIGAN' & M. J. KILLION.

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UNITED kSTATES PATENT OEEICE.

ICHARLES'A. MILLTGAN, OF SOMERVILLE, AND MICHAEL J. KILLION, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE EXCELSIOR SELF-LEVEL- -ING BERTH AND AUTOMATIC vLADDERCOMPANY, OF PORTLAND, ME.

LADDER.

i SEE-CIFICA'JION forming part of LettersPatent No. 298,013, dated May 6, 1884-.

Application filed February 7, 1884. (No model.) y

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. MILLI- GAN and MICHAEL J. KILL1oN,-respectively of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, and Boston, vin the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, h ave invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ladders, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, which represents an iso.- metrical perspective view, showing our improved ladder in use, one side of the box being represented as removed.

Our invention relates to that class of ladders which are adapted to be folded into a case or box for'storage or transportation; and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character is produced than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood -by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawing, Arepresents the box or case, and B'the ladder.

The case is of uniform depth for about threefourths of its length, this section having'an upholstered cover, C, which is pivoted at x to the sides D, and being provided at its lower end with a quadricircular part, E, which acts as a counter-balance to the cover, and also performs another important function hereinafter described. The other section of the box is considerably higher than that covered' by C, and is provided with a permanent upholstered cover, G, this section serving to house a portion of the machinery used in operating the ladder, and also as a seat; but the covers may be carpeted instead of upholstered, or may be left plain.

The ladder is provided at its upper end with two eyes, h, which slide on rods or loops g on the cover C, and at its lower end witha bar or lever, m, which is jointed thereto at z,

and tothe lower side of the part E at 't'.

An Vauxiliary cover, H, which is slightly narrower than the box A. has one of its ends jointed to the lower end of the ladder at f, and

y or lowered.

A cord, K, which is attached to the part E at l, passes under the guide-pulley d, thence through the sheave n, and is secured to the bottom of the box at p, thesheave being provided with a coiled spring, L, attached to the end of the box at r, which acts contractively to help elevate the ladder, and also to retard its movements as-itfalls.

A cord, M, passes under a pulley, e, and has its lower end secured to the part E at t', its upper end being passed over a pulley, j, above the Vtop berth, N. Another cord, P, passes und-er the pulley t and guide-pulley y, and has its lower end secured to the part Eat Z, its up per end being passed over a pulley, o, near the pulley j. A

In the use of our improvement, the ladder being in the position shown, if'it is desired to fold it into its box or case,the cord M is pulled, causing the part E to turn on its pivot .fv and the lever or bar m to draw the foot of the ladder and auxiliary cover H toward the cover G. As the lower end of the ladder is drawn backis at the bottom of its rails, will pass under its center of gravity, permitting the cover C to fall and close the box in a manner which will be readily obvious without a more explicit description. To open the case and erect the ladder, the cord P is pulled, causing the lever m to force the lower end of the ladder outwardly into the position shown, and the rollers b to ride or pass upwardly over the tracks J until the cover H is in a horizontal position.

The cover H, in addition to serving as a cover to the box when the ladder is erected,

also serves as a seat and as a step to assist in ascending the ladder,being sufliciently narrow to be housed in the box when theladder is dev pressed.

If desired, the case A may be made of uniform depth its entire length; and we do not therefore confine ourselves to constructing the section which is closed by the cover G higher than that which is closed by the cover C.

In the drawings the ladder is represented as in use in the stateroom of a steamer or ship, being well adapted for gaining access to the berths. It is also well adapted for use in sleepingcars, stores, dwelling-houses, libraries, &c.; and we do not therefore confine ourselves to its use for any special purpose. Neither do we confine ourselves to the use of the trucks b or the tracks J, as these may be omitted, if desired, and other means employed to perform substantially the same functions.

XVhen the ladder is used in a sleeping-car, it may, if desired, be disposed in a compart ment specially designed for it in the bottom of the car, and so arranged that when the cover C is closed it will be ilush with the oor l of the car, thus furnishing no impediment to I the passengers. It may also be similarly arranged in libraries, &c., if preferred, a cari pet being used on the covers C G, instead of l upholstery, or they may be left plain, as preil ferred. I

Ve are aware that a ladder adapted t0 be folded into a case, and also to automatically cover the case, is not new, and therefore do not herein claim the Same, broadly; but,

Having thus explained our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a ladder substantially such as de scribed, the cover H, hinged at one end to the ladder B, in combination with the case A, provided with the tracks J, and means for raising and lowering the ladder, substantially as specified.

2. In a ladder substantially such as described, the cover H, in combination with the ladder B, cover C, case A, and means for raising and lowering the ladder, substantially as set forth.

3. ln a ladder substantially such as described, the cover H, in combination with the ladder B, cover C, case A, means for raising and lowering the ladder, and means for elevating and supporting the outer end of the cover H when the ladder is erected, substantially as specified.

CHAS. A. MILLTGAN. MICHAEL J. KILLION. Witnesses:

C. A. SHAW, L. J. WHITE. 

